Report: The Economic Impact of Ornamental Horticulture in the UK

Vanishing Gardens and Landscapes threaten UK Future

For the first time a report published by Oxford Economic for the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group** reveals the significant value of the UK’s ornamental horticulture and landscape industries. In light of its economic importance, the industry contends that it isn’t being taken seriously by Government for the immense benefits it delivers.

£24.2 billion is the total GDP footprint of the UK’s ornamental horticulture industries in 2017.

Whilst parks, gardens and green spaces provide a £131 billion aggregate boost to Britain’s house prices as part of the appeal of nature, homes being built without private gardens are on the rise. Predictions show that gardens are getting smaller and nearly a quarter of new homes don’t have gardens at all. In 2020 one million more homes won’t have a private garden compared to 1995***

Some 568,700 jobs were supported by the industry in 2017, amounting to 1.6 percent of total UK employment, yet horticulture is hardly referenced in the national curriculum or promoted as a valued career path.

Despite ornamental horticulture generating £5.4 billion in revenue for HM Government in 2017, the industry has been largely ignored and receives little direct support or fiscal incentives. Yet it delivers exceptional public value in terms of the environmental benefit it provides to the nation.

On Monday 29 October 2018, one of the Nation’s best loved gardeners, Alan Titchmarsh, will speak on behalf of the ornamental horticulture industry at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Horticulture and Gardening Reception in Westminster and call on MPs to better recognise and invest in this vital industry.

Alan Titchmarsh says: "We must urgently stop the demise of the UK's gardens and landscapes for the sake of the economy and, equally importantly, for the sake of our health and well-being and that of the environment and wildlife. The health-giving properties of green spaces are well documented and their provision helps to relieve pressure on our troubled National Health Service.'

“This report shows the huge value of ornamental horticulture to the UK’s economy. Last year households spent around £7.5 billion on garden goods, with manufacturers selling around £1.3 billion worth of garden goods and products. That’s £1 in every £100 of household spending going on horticultural products and services. If horticulture continues to be undervalued and overlooked and we carry on building houses without gardens it will have a devastating impact not only on our national economy but also on the environment and our living conditions as a whole.”

“The UK’s commercial growers grew ornamental plants with a production value of £1.35 billion in the UK last year – with Brexit this is an industry we must support and grow, the opportunities are immense.”

Whilst Councils across the UK face an average 40% cut to parks and greenspace budgets[i], the Report reveals that £2.9 billion worth of tourism was attributable to parks and gardens in 2017.

Alan finishes: “On top of the huge economic value this industry brings to the UK, it is also critical for the health benefits it delivers.

“In the same year, UK’s vegetation provided air quality improvement with an economic value of £1.1 billion and averted 1,900 deaths from pollution.

“The Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group, chaired by Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, is a body of industry leaders and innovators, including retailers, gardening charities and industry bodies, they have long been championing the immense value and benefits of ornamental horticulture to safeguard the Nation’s future – it’s time to sit up, take note and act to support this invaluable and immense industry for a better future for all.”

The Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Group is now calling on Government to:

Create opportunities for the industry to scale up UK production in light of Brexit

**The Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable is a sector led group formed in 2014 with support from Defra to strengthen co-operation between UK government and the ornamental horticulture, landscape and gardening industry. They meet 4 times a year and membership includes: Arboricultural Association, British Association of Landscape Industries, Chartered Institute of Horticulture Horticultural Trades Association, LANDEX, National Farmers Union, Royal Horticultural Society and The Landscape show.